Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has officially submitted a waiver to the U.S. Department of Agriculture seeking to ban the purchase of soft drinks, candy, and other unhealthy items with benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in Arkansas.
The proposal aims to reduce chronic health conditions by limiting access to highly processed, sugary foods among SNAP recipients. “Banning soft drinks and candy from food stamps will remove some of the least-healthy, most-processed foods from the program and encourage low-income Arkansans to eat better,” said Sanders. She emphasized the move as a step toward broader food stamp reform and part of a larger effort to combat chronic disease.
About 23% of current SNAP spending—approximately $27 billion annually—goes toward soft drinks and unhealthy snacks. With nearly one-third of Arkansans facing diabetes or pre-diabetes, officials say the reform could have a significant public health impact.
This move follows other initiatives by Governor Sanders aimed at fighting food insecurity, including providing free school breakfasts and maintaining Summer EBT benefits for children during the summer months.
